"Brian Jacques - Redwall 06 - Martin The Warrior" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jacques Brian)

Aubretia looked surprised at the blind mouse's keen perception. "Yes, you're
right Simeon. I am a healer."

Simeon reached out and took hold of Bultip's hefty paw. "And you, sir, I don't
think you are a healer somehow."

"I'm no healer," the stout hedgehog chuckled, "just a travellin' companion
protectin' Aubretia."

The blind herbalist felt the strength of Bultip's paw as he flexed it. "I
imagine you do it very well. Woe betide the beast who stands in the way of
this paw!"

Laughter and merry chatter rose to the rafters of the big room beneath the
Abbey. There was warmth there, good companionship and good humour. Dishes went
this way and that from paw to paw, snowcream pudding, hot fruit pies, colorful
trifles, tasty pasties, steaming soup, new bread with shiny golden crusts, old
cheeses studded with dandelion, acorn and celery. Sugared plums and honeyed
pears vied for place with winter salads and vegetable flans. Aubretia and
Bultip joined in the merriment, enjoyed the food and basked in the legendary
hospitality of Redwall Abbey.

It was late night. Sleepy little ones had been carried off to their dormitory
beds and fresh torches placed in the wall sconces. Bultip nibbled on his
fourth pastie. Draining a tankard of October ale, he looked about at the still
chattering Redwallers bantering with one another across the tables.

"Does nobeast ever sleep in this place, Simeon?" The herbalist shrugged. "Are
you tired, friend?" Bultip blew on a bowl of hot soup. "Not me, I'm wide awake
now."

The Abbot watched the soup disappear. "Good, that's the spirit! None of us has
to rise early and work tomorrow. It's winter, and there's not a lot to do save
eat and

sleep, so we eat when we're hungry and sleep when we feel like it. How does
that suit you, Aubretia?"

The mousemaid sat back contentedly. "It suits me fine, Abbot. What happens now
we're finished feasting?"

Foremole looked up from his turnip 'n' tater 'n' beetroot pie. "You'm
travellen beasts, may'ap you'm gotten gudd stories to tell us'ns, rnizzy. We'm
'card all our tales ten 'undred toimes o'er."

Cushions and chairs were set in a half-circle round the big fireplace, fresh
logs placed on the fire, damped down with snow-soaked herbs to give a sweet
aroma to the air. Every Redwaller who did not want to sleep took a seat.
Aubretia and Bultip were installed in carved highback chairs. The audience
settled down, watching the two travellers eagerly.